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Pacifist Patriot

(24,918 posts)
Sun Oct 6, 2024, 08:36 AM Oct 2024

Hurricanes. I've been through them, I've also been a relief worker. Here is what I wish more people knew. [View all]

I've ranted here over the years about why we shouldn't judge people harshly over their decision to evacuate or hunker down. What I haven't done is weigh in as much on the aftermath. Probably because it is a very touchy nerve with me. Human beings are judgmental creatures, we just are. We make assumptions about behavior and that can lead to unintentional insensitive or insulting comments. I have bitten my tongue many times over the years because I know comments that have rubbed me the wrong way were rooted in ignorance, not malice.

I've done relief work after a variety of disasters, and there are a lot of similarities. But hurricanes can be unique so I'm going to focus on them since they are so top of mind right now. Hurricane Hugo, if anyone remembers that monster, was my first up close and personal experience with a catastrophic hurricane. And my first experience as a relief worker.

If you haven't been on the ground in the wake of devastation, it really is impossible to understand. News footage can't convey what it is like. Because watching it on television, you don't experience the heat, humidity, bugs, exhaustion, confusion, stink, oh god does it smell!

Getting relief to people when there are physical barriers (downed lines, washed out roads, debris) is difficult enough. Add changing conditions, communication disruptions, follow on adverse weather conditions, and well-meaning people getting in the way and it is daunting to say the least. This is why you will always see me railing against politicians coming in for their photo ops too soon and people trying to donate stuff instead of money.

If you aren't part of an organized relief effort, stay the fuck away and just send money!

You know what supplies we had the hardest time acquiring and distributing? Feminine hygiene products. I hope that has changed a lot since the early 2000s.

The following is a response I made to another post regarding a survivor's comments in a media interview.

"We cannot expect people who have been traumatized to speak eloquently, even coherently. Rationality can be in as short a supply as food and water. I cannot emphasize how psychologically, emotionally, and physically damaging living through something like this can be. Your sense of reality is gone. You're desperately coming to terms with what happened, how you're going to make it through the next minute, and trying to figure out your future simultaneously. I'm not going to hold anyone accountable for what they say at a time like this. No clue what was going through her head at that moment."

You know that sense of dissociation from reality we had after 09/11 and when we heard Trump was elected in 2016? If you've lost a loved one suddenly or been the victim of a crime, this is the cognitive experience I'm talking about. Your brain struggles to adapt to a new reality. And it isn't a constant feeling, it can crash over you in devastating waves. "Wait, this isn't supposed to be the way things are!" That often never goes away or takes years to do so.

A hurricane is a wind event that blows things to smithereens and pierces hard objects with the unlikeliest projectiles.
A hurricane is a tsunami event that slams into things and relocates them far away.
A hurricane is a flood event that soaks into everything in its path and leaves them bobbing about..or drowning them completely.
A hurricane is a heat event that kills with loss of power for days or weeks on end.
A hurricane is a biological event that allows dangerous molds to grow and mosquitos to swarm.
A hurricane is a widespread event that can leave a broad swath of devastation in its wake, hundreds of miles wide and hundreds of miles long.
A hurricane is a psychological event that can render the sound of thunder or pounding rain paralyzing for the rest of your life.

The numbers of deaths reported in the wake of a hurricane represent not just the people killed, but their friends, families, colleagues, and communities that they were a part of. When hundreds die, thousands personally mourn and are changed forever.

Hurricanes (well, natural disasters in general) wreak their havoc for not just days, or even weeks. But months and years (yes, even lifetimes) for the people and communities that were hit hardest.

Surviving a natural disaster is traumatic. Trauma. With a capital T. And that trauma becomes a part of you.

You know what gets lost in recovery and relief efforts? The psychological impact down the road. The PTSD is horrific and too many people don't recognize it as such and/or don't have access to help.

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Thank you for this post. yardwork Oct 2024 #1
Yes, the PTSD is horrific for sure. SheltieLover Oct 2024 #2
K&R WhiskeyGrinder Oct 2024 #3
Yes, x 10000 lark Oct 2024 #4
As a retired first responder, I absolutely say those who ignore evacuation orders should be judged harshly RAB910 Oct 2024 #5
I'm not talking about mandatory areas. Pacifist Patriot Oct 2024 #7
There was no evacuation order in the mountains. yardwork Oct 2024 #10
I remember the NHC and/or NOAA warning repeatedly in the days before the storm hit land, that LauraInLA Oct 2024 #46
Severe rain and flash floods aren't that uncommon in WNC. yardwork Oct 2024 #48
The majority of people who "ignore" evacuation orders generally have pretty solid reasons for not evacuating. WhiskeyGrinder Oct 2024 #13
Exactly Farmer-Rick Oct 2024 #29
I have never evacuated from a hurricane. I had 3 cats and 7 birds. kerry-is-my-prez Oct 2024 #49
I'm really glad you made it through safely! LauraInLA Oct 2024 #50
You asked for an explanation MyMission Oct 2024 #64
Thanks for the info Farmer-Rick Oct 2024 #66
Amen to that !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! DENVERPOPS Oct 2024 #16
When 4 hurricanes hit central Florida Keepthesoulalive Oct 2024 #17
The folks who think 21 million people can leave a peninsula within 48-72 hours are shockingly stupid. Pacifist Patriot Oct 2024 #22
You have to live thru Keepthesoulalive Oct 2024 #28
While I can understand your perspective, I see other sides as well. EVACUATE! niyad Oct 2024 #41
Excellent post. Thanks. underpants Oct 2024 #6
I vividly remember hurricane Hugo. llmart Oct 2024 #8
No words Pacifist Patriot Oct 2024 #18
Another Perspective modrepub Oct 2024 #9
You may not be aware that the worst hit area from Helene was 600 miles away. yardwork Oct 2024 #12
Mountains Are Extremely Flood Prone modrepub Oct 2024 #15
Your take on this is not helpful. yardwork Oct 2024 #23
Respect the floodplain!! MyMission Oct 2024 #54
Good advice soandso Oct 2024 #57
It may have been like a Tsunami DENVERPOPS Oct 2024 #30
Your facts are wrong in several places. yardwork Oct 2024 #34
Thank you DENVERPOPS Oct 2024 #37
The rest of your post is mostly opinion yardwork Oct 2024 #39
New article from AP DENVERPOPS Oct 2024 #51
I didn't see a link in your post. yardwork Oct 2024 #53
Go to DENVERPOPS Oct 2024 #55
I know. I'm in Durham, NC and my son lives in Asheville. yardwork Oct 2024 #58
Asheville is the largest city in this region of NC MyMission Oct 2024 #63
A great OP malaise Oct 2024 #11
What about if DownriverDem Oct 2024 #14
Everyone should make decisions based on their own circumstances and needs. Pacifist Patriot Oct 2024 #20
The lies are working - they're turning us against one another. yardwork Oct 2024 #25
True. Every region on earth has its climate hazzards. wnylib Oct 2024 #44
I remember that bomb cyclone blizzard. yardwork Oct 2024 #59
I am near Buffalo, but far enough inland wnylib Oct 2024 #60
where should people move to avoid natural disasters?? cally Oct 2024 #45
Bravo! Life is NOT a movie! Girard442 Oct 2024 #19
KnR. n/t iluvtennis Oct 2024 #21
Thanks for this post, Pacifist Patriot. This is so important for people to understand. BComplex Oct 2024 #24
It's been almost twenty years since I've been on the ground as a relief worker. Pacifist Patriot Oct 2024 #26
My most intense experience in a hurricane was in 1966, the year we lived on Key Biscayne across the causeway from Martin68 Oct 2024 #27
The news never mentions the stench. So many Florida homes have septic tanks, Native Oct 2024 #31
That, rotting garbage, molding plywood, people unable to bathe, decaying flora and fauna..it's bad. Pacifist Patriot Oct 2024 #32
To say nothing of the DENVERPOPS Oct 2024 #38
Alicia taught me some lessons. ananda Oct 2024 #33
I always say that as far as a fun and exciting experience is concerned... Towlie Oct 2024 #35
Living through a hurricane or even a strong tropical storm is no fun LetMyPeopleVote Oct 2024 #36
Thank you Wild blueberry Oct 2024 #40
KNR plus a gazillion. THANK YOU!!! niyad Oct 2024 #42
Thank you. PTSD after a disaster, natural or otherwise, is real. CDC has a national Disaster Distress Helpline, Timeflyer Oct 2024 #43
Wonderful post soandso Oct 2024 #47
Thank you for the very analytical write-up of the impact of a hurricane. Very graphic and informative. SWBTATTReg Oct 2024 #52
During Hurricane Harvey I had a family member say - "just leave now" TBF Oct 2024 #56
Thank you for posting this Lulu KC Oct 2024 #61
This is what we needed to read Mira Oct 2024 #62
That's a great and timely post PP canetoad Oct 2024 #65
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